During the first half of the season, Texas Tech's Seth Doege had a number of teammates at skill positions elevate their games. Maybe the next guy is Cornelius Douglas.

During the first half of the season, Texas Tech’s Seth Doege had a number of teammates at skill positions elevate their games to help out a first-year starting quarterback. But there’s always room for more.

Maybe the next guy is Cornelius Douglas. The last three weeks, the junior inside receiver from Lawton, Okla., has played at the highest level of his career.

“In practice, I’ve been doing the same thing. I think that’s why I’ve been getting so many balls. I’m coming out here in practice every day, working hard, and that transfers into the game.”

Douglas had a four-catch, 98-yard game three weeks ago at Kansas and a five-catch, 99-yard performance last week against Kansas State. In between, he caught six passes against Texas A&M, but wasn’t able to turn it into much, only 24 yards.

“He plays well when teams give him a lot of grass, meaning there’s a lot of open areas,” Tech coach Tommy Tuberville said. “He’s a guy that finds that.

“He’s a guy that Seth looks for because he knows if people are playing certain coverages, he’s a sneaky type that will run behind a defender and get open. He knows how to get open.”

The Red Raiders have long thought Douglas (5-foot-9, 197 pounds) could be a playmaker because he’s quick and built low to the ground. Such plays have finally materialized in the last month. Douglas caught passes for 22, 35, 24 and 17 yards in the 45-34 victory at Kansas and added receptions of 40 and 37 yards in last week’s 41-34 loss to Kansas State. The 40-yarder went for a touchdown.

Douglas says he’s becoming smarter in his approach.

“It’s being out there and seeing different coverages, seeing how (defenders) play and watching film,” he said. “I’m taking what I learn from other teams, seeing how they play and react to things I do, and that kind of converts to (success against) other teams.

“Some people play the same way. If you do one move, they might (react) the same. So I’m converting it to different teams and just learning.”

Douglas had an outstanding game at Kansas, even when he wasn’t making catches. He made two tackles for negative yardage on punt coverage, caused a KU fumble on a kickoff return and threw a big block to help spring split end Eric Ward on a touchdown.

Tuberville said for some time nagging injuries were a problem for Douglas, who’s now in his fourth year in the program.

“He plays fast. He plays reckless,” Tuberville said. “Guys like that will tweak a muscle or an ankle or whatever. He’s a competitor, and he plays on almost every special team. Every game, he’s going to give what he’s got, whether it’s a hundred percent or not. He’s a guy that always shows up. He makes a difference in what he does.”

Douglas would love to continue his recent hot streak this week since he’ll be back in his home state, playing against Oklahoma, the team of which he was a fan growing up. Douglas said former Sooners stars Jason White and Adrian Peterson were among his favorite players. For that matter, Peterson, now with the Minnesota Vikings, still is.

Since he’ll have plenty of family in attendance and knows a few Sooners players, Douglas can’t help but want to have another one of his best games against them.

“I’ll have a little bit more intensity, a little quicker steps, just out there giving my all,” Douglas said. “I mean, I give my all in the other games, but you get that extra (motivation), you know?”